harmonious, a.
(hɑːˈməʊnɪəs)
Also 6 armonious, Sc. ermonius.
[ad. F. harmonieux (14th c.), f. harmonie harmony: see -ous.]
1. Marked by harmony, agreement, or concord; agreeing, accordant, concordant, congruous; having the parts or elements in accord so as to form a consistent or agreeable whole.
| 1638 T. Whitaker Blood of Grape 6 If contraries shall bee adhibited to a harmonious temper, 'tis the cause of discord. 1643 Milton Divorce ii. xiii, The..statutes of God..are most constant and most harmonious each to other. 1753 Hogarth Anal. Beauty viii. 40 A..harmonious order of architecture in all its parts. 1804 J. Grahame Sabbath 816 Th' ethereal curve of seven harmonious dyes. 1820 W. Irving Sketch Bk. I. 40 The very difference in their characters produced an harmonious combination. |
b. Marked by agreement of feeling or sentiment; free from discord or dissent; consentient, unanimous.
| 1724 Wodrow Corr. (1843) III. 116, I..am glad Mr. Paisley's call will be harmonious. 1849 Macaulay Hist. Eng. II. 213 No constitutional question had ever been decided..with more harmonious consent. 1870 E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. I. 160 A long and not quite harmonious interview with his wife. |
2. Characterized by harmony of sounds; sounding together with agreeable effect; in harmony, concordant; tuneful, sweet-sounding; full of harmony.
| 1549 Compl. Scot. vi. 64 His ermonius sang. 1570 Dee Math. Pref. 22 As, for Astronomie, the eyes; So for Harmonious Motion, the eares were made. c 1586 C'tess Pembroke Ps. xlvii. iii, Hark, how did ring Harmonious aire with trumpetts sound. 1633 G. Herbert Temple, Aaron i, Harmonious bells. 1784 Cowper Task i. 767 Your songs confound Our more harmonious notes. 1836–7 Dickens Sk. Boz, Miss Evans & Eagle 140 They formed an harmonious quartett. 1853 C. Brontë Villette xli, His voice..mixed harmonious with the silver whisper..[of] light breeze, fountain, and foliage. |
b. transf. Of persons: Singing, playing, or speaking tunefully or agreeably.
| 1530 Palsgr. Introd. 15 The frenchemen..covet..to be armonious in theyr speking. 1592 Greene Groat's W. Wit (1617) 11 The sight and hearing of this harmonious beauty. 1738 Glover Leonidas i. 400 Harmonious youths..In loftysounding strains his praise record. 1880 Grove Dict. Mus. I. 655/1 The popular air known as ‘The Harmonious Blacksmith’. |